Ward-Beck Systems is pleased to announce its 50th Anniversary in April 2017. Through five decades of continuous operation, we have witnessed many technological and social changes in our industry, including the transition from mixing consoles to tablets, the digitization of analog signals, convergence between various technologies and lately, the shift to networked audio and video signals.

Through it all we persevered, evolved and kept innovating to maintain our relevance to our clients and the industry. Quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, after-sales support and excellent customer relations form the foundation of our company.

Join the AES Toronto Section for a presentation on:

History of Ward-Beck Systems Toronto audio solutions

The process and challenges of mass producing one-offs in Toronto

Factory Tour

AES67 network configuration and functionality as it relates to PTP and synchronization

Interoperability and the importance it plays in the future of Audio and Video IP technology

Presenter

Kevin Lyver

16 years of experience working at Ward-Beck Systems. Starting as a shipper & receiver and working his way up through procurement, sales and marketing to the position of Chief Operations Officer.

In November 2015 Kevin acquired the shares of Ward-Beck Systems Inc, and now holds the title of president. Efforts within the company are geared to improve to all aspects of the operation, to ease work-flow, increase productivity and profitability.

Recent activity include working with government funded programs geared to small business development within Canada and Ontario including SR&ED, IRAP, NSERC, ICTC SBDI, OCE, and MEDG.

Anthony P. Kuzub

Audio Chameleon

Anthony started with WBS in 2002 as an enthusiast. He scanned legacy documentation and published it for the world’s consumption though the WBS Preservation Society website.

After leaving his post as technical supervisor at Toronto’s Revolution Recording to pursue studies in Communication Engineering, WBS invited Anthony to be a resident Technologist. Anthony is a product manager, systems engineer, audio network designer and field applications specialist. As an audio chameleon he can adapt solutions for any application.

In March, we had the pleasure of visiting the CBC location in downtown Toronto. In addition to a very fruitful meeting, spent in discussing future product possibilities and strides in AoIP technology, we also got the chance to take a brief look around the place. They have a very fascinating collection of early radio and TV broadcasting equipment.

One of our regular inventory checks at Ward-Beck turned up an interesting old tool that was in popular usage during the console era, helping to repair and maintenance of audio consoles.

What you see above is an R2K console extender board, a simple board that was placed in between the console chassis and the console modules.

This helps to extend the circuitry on the module out of the chassis, allowing technicians to easily access both sides of the circuit board, in order to connect testing equipment. This made for easier maintenance and repair, and less chance of any circuitry being accidentally damaged because the technicians couldn't properly see the card they were working on.

These extenders boards provided a practical solution to the physical limitations of testing and troubleshooting in the crowded and enclosed space of a console.

Extender Boards are not in wide use anymore. These days, when a module from a console, such as our R2K console needs to be repaired, it is simply taken out of the console and sent in for repair, while a replacement is used in its place. However, we do have a modern version of the extender board for the Ward-Beck 8200 series of cards.

This extender board helps to extend the card out of the cage rack, so that testing on the card can be done without dismantling the whole thing, or have to poke inside the card cage. Again, a handy way to ease up the repair and maintenance process.

Our extender boards are still being used by technicians in broadcast stations around the country. The little things keep the old ways going :)

During Canada Music Week, producer / engineer and Ward-Beck Systems console enthusiast Garth Richardson came to us with an upgrade request. His Ward-Beck Systems L3204 console, formerly owned by the renown Kill Bennedy, needed more gain on the direct outs.Garth's attention to gain structure lead him to need 4dB more from the WBS-L_M470A direct line output, factory set to 0dB relative to -15dB in hand position. After a visit at the factory we came up with a solution tailored to fit the M470A module.

Introducing the WBS-L-GGGain add on for the
WBS-L-M470 microphone pre-amp modules.

The WBS-L-GGGain adds 4dB of gain to only the direct out. It was important not to throw the busses out of alignment. By replacing the R104 and R105, the use of a WBS Legacy inspired Booster amplifier design, the task is accomplished preserving the character of the channel strip Garth enjoys. The design is very similar to that used within the M470 Mic pre-amp fader receiver.

In order to be customer installed, a hole must be drilled into the PCB; luckily a spot without traces was nearby. The WBS-L-GGGain has (7) leads that easily connect to the PCB for line in/out and power. The first production run will be this month. Once they are test department approved, they will be install ready. Several extra GGGain modules will be produced and made available in our new online marketplace. We look forward to working on projects like this one for Garth and welcome others like it. Ward-Beck Systems - First By Design.